FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 20, 2009

Freehold HS wins county Consumer Bowl
Next up – regional competition on April 1

MANALAPAN – Once again the team of students from Freehold Township High School emerged as the winner of the Monmouth County Consumer Bowl held Monday, March 16 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters.

Students from high schools in Colts Neck, Freehold Township, Howell, Keansburg, Manalapan, Marlboro, Matawan, and Neptune competed in a game-show style competition by answering consumer-related questions in a multiple choice and open-ended format. The scores in the preliminary rounds were very close, but in the final round, the Freehold Township team beat out the Neptune Township team.  

“These students really tested their knowledge of consumer protection,” said Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow. “In preparing for the competition, these young adults gained valuable knowledge about topics that affect their daily lives. This knowledge will serve them well throughout their lives.”

The Freehold Township team will move on to the regional competition on April 1 with home field advantage because the competition will be held at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters in Manalapan.

“A record number of teams participated this year and is a testament to the efforts of the county’s Department of Consumer Affairs,” said Freeholder Lillian G. Burry and liaison to the county department.  “Each year the department assists residents with more than 1,000 complaints and helps consumers retrieve more than $500,000.  These young adults are gaining some knowledge that will help them be smarter consumers and possibly future consumer advocates!”

Members of the Freehold Township High School team were Captain Frank DeRose, Brandon Egan, Jackie Myers, Nicole Mularzi, and Megan Reed. They were led by business education teacher Lydia Wagner, a long-time supporter, advocate, and moderator of the school’s Consumer Bowl. 

The winner of the regional competition will go on to compete in the 2009 New Jersey State Consumer Bowl scheduled for May at the State House in Trenton.  The New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl was established in 1997 to help students learn about consumer issues that will benefit them throughout their lives. 

Schools and students who competed in the 2009 competition were:

Colts Neck High School
Jessica Canose – Captain
Courtney Joline
Dana Besmanoff
Elaina Montagnino
Rebecca McKenzie
Vince Tesi – Teacher

Freehold Twp High School
Frank DeRose – Captain
Brandon Egan
Jackie Myers
Nicole Mularz
Megan Reed
Lydia Wagner – Teacher

Howell High School
Brandon Cerretanic – Captain
Gabriella Stephen
Jack McCabe
Megan Batson
Eric Esolda
Janis Schwartz – Teacher

Keansburg High School
Kerriann Cassarello – Captain
Devan McAleese
Danielle Corrigan
Lindsay Best
Gabriella Fuhr
Timothy O’Halloran – Teacher

Manalapan High School
Max Schlesinger – Captain
Kevin Dolan
Eric Berman
Gregory Zaharioudakis
Kyle McBride
Susan Arnone – Teacher

Marlboro High School
Dan Wertman – Captain
Mike Plietz
Matt Blum
Nicole Sullivan
David Rinder
Lee Travisano – Teacher

Matawan Regional High School
Ryan Sandberg – Captain
Jose Avila
Maryann Foeeaj
Russell Ahmed
Jarrad Mandeville-Lawson
Steve Koback
Amanda Rosiello and Serena Gohar – Teachers

Neptune High School
Kendra Knowles – Captain
Tyler Torres
Jason Weir
Tyler Wieczerak
Andrew Casper
Charles Kolinofsky - Teacher

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